BURLINGTON, VT—Chittenden County residents will have the opportunity to view a 17-minute “Women and Smoking: Seven Deadly Myths” video before asking questions of the Vermont Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Chief Karen Garbarino during a live call-in telecast. The “Live at 5:25” Adelphia cable show will air on Channel 17/Town Meeting Television on Friday, Sept. 26 from 5:25–5:55 p.m.

Approximately one of every five women in Vermont and around the country smoke cigarettes. Some other facts about women and smoking:

Since 1950, there has been a 600 percent increase in women’s deaths from lung cancer, a preventable disease primarily caused by cigarette smoking.

Lung cancer surpassed breast cancer in 1987 as the leading cause of cancer death for women.

Since 1980, approximately three million U.S. women have died prematurely from smoking-related diseases.

The Channel 17 “Women and Smoking” show may be rebroadcast on other community access stations around the state at a later date.

Quitting smoking is one of the healthiest lifestyle changes a person can make, but it is also one of the most difficult. It takes most smokers five to seven attempts before they are able to quit successfully. Services such as the Vermont Quit Line are available to help all Vermonters beat these odds. Vermonters who want to learn more about the resources available can call the Vermont Quit Line toll-free at 1-877-YES-QUIT, or 1-877-937-7848.

According to the Vermont Department of Health, approximately 96,000 adult Vermonters smoke and an estimated 1,000 die annually from smoking-related diseases including heart disease and cancer. The Vermont Department of Health aims to cut the number of adult Vermont smokers in half by 2010.